Fall Mack Days begins early

The 2024 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake will begin two weeks early on Sept. 5 and will end on Nov. 3. The event dates were moved up to try and alleviate the cold mid-November temperatures anglers have endured the past couple of years.

Mack Days fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a fisheries management tool to increase the populations of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat in Flathead Lake. The events are sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. 

The fall event offers up to $200,000 in cash and prizes, awarded at the conclusion of the event. 

There are several ways to win including tagged fish. One lake trout will be tagged with a $10,000 numbered tag, three will have $5,000 numbers, and five will be valued at $1,000. Plus, there are more than 9,000 lake trout with values from $100 to $500. 

Tagged fish are to be turned in the same day they are caught. 

Other categories are: Ladies, Youth 12 & Under, Youth 13-17, Top Twenty Anglers, 70 & Over, Captains, Siberian Cooler Drawings, Smallest lake trout, Largest lake trout and lottery prizes from $2,000 to $200. All it takes is one entry to win in the lottery category. Weekend drawings are held with five winners each weekend. 

Anglers also earn bonus amounts for their fish totals. Fish are to be turned in the same day as caught and there is no pooling of fish allowed. 

Rules and the bonus chart are sent out by email as anglers register. Entries are taken until the last day of the event. 

From Monday-Thursday, all fish are to be turned in at Blue Bay from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. From Friday to Sunday there will be fish pickups at Big Arm State Park Boat Ramp, 5-5:30 p.m.; Salish Point in Polson, 6-6:15 p.m.; Somers State Boat Ramp, 3:30-4 p.m., and Wayfarers State Park Boat Ramp, 4:30-5 p.m.; or at Blue Bay until dark or 9 p.m., whichever comes first. 

Follow all fishing regulations and Coast Guard boating regulations. 

To enter, ask questions or comment, email cindy.benson@cskt.org with your name, mailing address, telephone number, and age.